The 1889 Brooklyn Bridegrooms won the pennant by scoring an unexpectedly high number of runs. The team's offensive averages were no great shakes at .263/.338/.364, giving them just the third-best Adjusted OPS in the league, and their stolen base count was nothing special. However, their runs scored was far above the league average.

Hub Collins appeared in 138 games and scored 139 times, although his averages were just .266/.365/.320. George Pinkney appeared in 138 games and scored 103 times with averages of .246/.327/.339. Darby O'Brien led the team with 146 runs scored in 136 games, with averages of .300/.384/.418. While it might appear that the team was getting unusual numbers of walks, their on-base percentage was only five points over the league average.

And their pitching was also mediocre, with an ERA that was fifth in the league. Bob Caruthers went 40-11, but his Adjusted ERA was only ninth in the league.